Decision on Working Committee Membership Removal

Overview

In May 2022, the Residents' Assembly of Auroville voted on a proposal to remove individual members of the Working Committee from office. This vote was conducted through the standard Residents' Assembly Decision-making (RAD) process and resulted in significant changes to one of Auroville's key administrative bodies.

Participation and Results

• Total participants: 864 registered residents

• Quorum requirement: 10% of eligible residents (239 votes required)

• Total eligible voters: 2,389 confirmed Aurovilians (as of May 2022)

• Outcome: The proposal was approved with 92% (798 votes) in favour and 8% (66 votes) against

Individual member results:

• Anu: 782 votes (90.5%) to remove; 82 votes (9.5%) to continue

• Arun: 762 votes (88.2%) to remove; 102 votes (11.8%) to continue

• Chali: 52 votes (6.0%) to remove; 812 votes (94.0%) to continue

• Hemant: 55 votes (6.4%) to remove; 809 votes (93.6%) to continue

• Parthasarathy: 710 votes (82.2%) to remove; 154 votes (17.8%) to continue

• Sauro: 37 votes (4.3%) to remove; 827 votes (95.7%) to continue

• Srimoyi: 779 votes (90.2%) to remove; 85 votes (9.8%) to continue

The Decision

The approved decision was: "I agree to remove individual members of the Working Committee from office through this current RA decision-making process, given their failure to 'assist' and 'represent' the Residents' Assembly as stated in their mandate. If more than 50% of voters agree that a member is to be removed, the term of that member ends with immediate effect. I agree that any remaining members of the Working Committee will continue in office and can choose to appoint interim members. They can only do so in consultation with the Auroville Council. These interim members can only be chosen from members of previous Working Committees. The term of the interim Working Committee members shall be until the next RA-approved Selection Process has been held, and new Working Committee members have been selected. In the unlikely event that all Working Committee members are dismissed, the three Working Committee members who have the most votes to stay on will remain, as interim members, until the next RA-approved selection process."

What Does This Decision Mean?

This decision removed 4 members of the Working Committe from their positions and confirmed 3 members to keep their positions.

• Four members (Anu, Arun, Parthasarathy, and Srimoyi) received more than 50% of votes to be removed and were immediately dismissed from office

• Three members (Chali, Hemant, and Sauro) received majority votes to continue and remained in their positions

The decision also established a framework for appointing interim members:

• The remaining members could appoint interim members in consultation with the Auroville Council

• Interim members could only be chosen from former Working Committee members

• The interim committee would serve until the next RA-approved selection process